Expect large PAC-12 race turnout at Colfax

Colfax is expected to mark a big day Friday when mens’ and womens’ cross country teams from the PAC-12 conduct the conference race at the Colfax Golf Course. The event is expected to draw teams from all schools in the league for the race which will be a qualifier for the national finals. Colfax city officials and members of the golf club have been coordinating plans for the event in meetings every two weeks.

The race was slated for Colfax because WSU was booked as the host team of the PAC-12 race this year. School officials were looking for a flat course where they could stake out a course which could be expected to generate times with an eye for national qualifications.

The course had a test run Sept. 1 when WSU hosted its annual Inland Empire run. That brought approximately 150 runners from Inland Empire schools with WSU the lone entry which will be back Friday as a PAC-12 member.

Work on setting the Colfax course was scheduled to start Wednesday, and the cross country teams will practice today.

The Colfax course has been pegged out for two kilometers which will mean four laps for the mens’ race and three laps for the womens’ race.

All 12 schools in the conference have womens’ teams and 10 have mens’ teams.

Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek said Oregon State has booked 14 rooms at the Wheatland Inn at Colfax. He believes most of the other teams booked rooms early in the year.

Race day schedule slates the national anthem at 10:10 a.m., call for the mens’ race at 10:15 and the mens’ race start at 10:30.

Call for the womens’ start will be at 11:15 and their race will start at 11:35.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for 12:10 at the golf club.

Colfax Police Chief Rick McNannay said his department and organizers have worked to establish a parking plan for the Oct. 30 race. McNannay in a report Tuesday said they estimate the event could draw as many a 1,500 spectators plus the participants, coaches and staff of the PAC-12 teams. Admission will be free.

The department has been working with WSU events coordinator Ben Clarke.

The aim will be to provide a smooth flow of traffic to minimize impact on residents in the North Flat and other parts of town. McDonald Park, Rotary Field and Schmuck Park have been designated as parking areas for the event.

City Administrator Michael Rizzitiello said WSU plans to provide shuttle service with its vehicles for the event. The city has also arranged for backup parking space on the former railroad property it has purchased and cleared behind the new exercise gym and sports clothing shop. Fans who park there will be able to use the shuttle service to the golf course.

Another factor in the Colfax event could be the expectation of the WSU-Stanford football collision Saturday night at Pullman. That is expected to attract football fans who could plan to make a stop at the Friday event in Colfax as part of their football weekend plans in Pullman. The banner advertisements posted in Colfax have been designed to advertise the event to football fans and others traveling to Pullman for fall events.

Rizzitiello said ESPN, which has been booked to broadcast the WSU-Stanford game, has made arrangements to have a crew at the races in Colfax Friday. He said the ESPN truck has requested a spot for its truck at McDonald Park next to the dike which separates the ball fields from the golf course.

The layout of the course calls for runners to start in front of the green at hole one and essentially loop the course in reverse of the order of play for the golfers. The finish stretch will be back down the fairway of number one with the finish line near the club house.